Pffffff!

Exhaling heavily, I took a painful step up the mountain path. Hearing the cry of a raptor I looked to the sky, briefly glimpsing a hawk making its way along the ridge line in the distance. It like me was making its lonely way to some other place. Unlike me though, it had the wind to aid it in its journey. Wind either blew into me slowing my progress, or from behind forcing me to step carefully. Even though I knew there was a profit to be made from this trip, it did not make it any easier.

Despite the fact that trading with the Walled City of Notredram has always been my most profitable trade than any other trading I did during the year, my legs did not enjoy making the trip. At least I had decided to come now and not later in the season, as winter was only a few months away. Being caught in a storm in the mountains was the last thing I wanted, and without snowshoes or my winter gear sore legs would be the least of my problems.

Hiking up the small road with my weighted down pack for a total of five miles and an elevation change of two thousand feet was not a normal days work. I was by no means overweight or unfit, yet even the older traders and merchants who traded with Notredram or any other of the Walled Cities would agree that getting to them was not for the weak. Painful as the hike was, I knew that it would soon be over and the return trip down this same path was much easier.

High above the bountiful forests and endless plains, Notredram was cut off from most resources, getting by on what they could harvest from the mountain streams, combined with their agriculture and livestock. It did not help that they never sent anyone out unless it was an emergency.

My goods I had to trade would not help much in the way of sustenance, as I carried only some scrap metal and a dozen or so animal skins. They were fine fur that could be made into warm winter clothing. Winter was only a few months away and would hit the mountains long before it reached the valleys and then the plains and forests below. However cold it got in the low lands, one could be sure that it was far colder up here. Furs were a necessity in clothing for the long winters in the mountains thus they always carried a fair value.

Reminded of the hefty sum of goods I carried, I doubled my efforts as I struggled up the last stretch of the badly maintained mountain road. Sliding my feet on protruding and loose rocks as I clambered up the lip of the slope, I grit my teeth at every tiny misbalance. The people of Notredram really needed to fix the road if they hoped anyone to get to them this spring. Rain storms were devastating up here in the mountains, always changing the landscape. No trader would make the trip if it meant breaking a leg just to get up here.

Reaching the lip of the slope, I stopped to take in the sight before me. Notredram had not changed in the season since I had last visited. The spiraling towers and houses that made up the first few rows were magnificent, though I did not care for such things. Originally built with grey stone, the towers were now covered with a greenish brown moss near their peaks. Most of the houses were moss free, and their red brown roofs made the city seem ablaze as the sun reflected off them.

Personally I preferred my small wood and straw cottage. Wood and straw might break, but at least I knew where it came from, and I had made it myself. Besides, stone was permanent and difficult to obtain or fix. All of the material for my home had been collected within a mile of it. The easy accessibility of the material made the yearly repairs go be quickly, rather than waiting for someone to harvest it and bring it to me.

My attentions were diverted from thinking about such things as a deep voice bellowed, "In the name of the Walled City of Notredram I order you to identify yourself."

Letting out a deep sigh, as no matter how many times I had come here, the guards always challenged me, I looked up towards the speaker and glaring shouted, "Zachariah. I have goods to trade with your merchants."

While I was speaking I began to lift my rifle off my shoulder in preparation for handing it over at the gate. Before I could get it off a shot rang out from the direction of the guards above me.

Just as I registered the shot, a fistful of dirt and rock erupted from a hole in the ground next to my foot. Some of this dislodged rock bounced off my pants, along with most of the dirt. Without significant force, none of the debris actually hurt me but it was still enough that I felt them ricochet. Instinct had me wanting to place the weathered wooden stock of my rifle in to my shoulder, yet instead I forced myself to calm down.

Brimming with anger and surprised at such an action, as they had never shot at me before I justifiably  yelled, "What was that for! Can you not see I am disarming myself."

From somewhere above me on the ramparts I could hear the original speaker berating someone else, presumably the shooter. "He was reaching for a firearm...

Slap!

"That's no excuse. Your finger should only ever be near the trigger when I say so. Did I give the order to aim at him?"

"No, Sergeant."

"What if you had actually hit him, private? Not only would we have an injured man, but other traders and merchants would shy away from our city. Do you think we can survive for long without the help of the outsiders?"

"No, Sergeant."

"In the future you will wait for my command. Next time it will be water duty for you, regardless of the offense. Am I clear?"

"Yes Sergeant."

Rolling my eyes I waited impatiently for the man whom had spoken to me to grant me permission to enter the city. I did not have to wait long as the unknown speaker directed me, "Leave your firearms with the guards at the gatehouse. Shaw will meet you in the square."

Familiar with the guidelines, I walked through the thick wood doors that served as the main gate of Notredram. Just past the doors was the gatehouse, a squat wood and stone building that served as the official checkpoint. No person who wanted into Notredram got in if they did not pass inspection. It was all for show really, as any of the actually dangerous outsiders were to dumb to sneak up on the city.

Despite having come here numerous times before, I was under the watchful eye of two of the city guards, as I removed my various pistols along with my rifle and piled them on the table. Both wore the same simple style and color of wool pants, long sleeve shirt, and a cap. Over the shirt was a fairly thick hardened leather rectangle that offered some protection to their torso. Bullets would go right through it, but for the most part it kept them safe from the weapons allowed inside the city wall. Mostly the clothing choice was due to the chill in the air that never went away here in the mountains.

Neither guard seemed happy with the amount of weapons I had produced, and they still seemed unhappy when all I had left was a knife and my small axe. Unhappy was putting it mildly but at the same time they were not making any quick movements or acting aggressive. Hostile was a good description though they tried to hide it. Someone with a better education would no doubt have a fancy word for it, but hostile worked for me.

While Notredram did not allow anyone but the guards to carry firearms, once I had removed them, the guards could no longer hold me. Dangerous as they might be in the hands of  warrior, my knife and ax were perfectly legal. No man or woman would ever get me or any Outlander to enter the Walled Cities without our knives. Despite the years of recent peace, those of the Walled Cities's did not trust Outlanders because of the years of conflict between our people.

As I turned over my firearms Shaw, the man I had come to trade with watched from the square. His brown eyes twinkled with amusement as I turned, catching him looking at my weapons and the looks the guards were giving me. Unlike the two guards, he knew that I would never harm anyone unless provoked. Shaw was one of the few people I trusted in Notredram, and over the years I had gained his trust as well. I had no desire to damage that trust in any way, and always tried to keep my visits short and without conflict.

Shaw was also a busy man, and the fact that he had taken the time to come and trade with me directly had me laying my wares out in a blink of an eye. Pelts and metal were all I had wanted to haul up the mountain for this trip. Herbs or other more unique items I brought only by request or if sickness swept the land. Pelts always held the most cash value, and were easy to get in the Deep Wood where I lived and trapped. Shaw himself was wearing a long coat made from the skins of three wolves I had shot two years back. The work that the people of the Walled Cities put into their clothing astounded me, as Shaw looked ever inch the respected merchant wearing it. Adding to its grandeur were seven brass buttons, a luxury that I could never live up to. Still it pleased me that he had made use of the skins, and that they seemed to be keeping him warm.

Staying close to the Shaw's side, I watched as he examined each pelt with a keen eye. Most of them were otter or beaver, as they were abundant in the woods. Being creatures that spent much of their time in water, their fur was naturally rainproof due to certain oils. Such fur was highly sought after in the wet and cold mountainous regions where many of the Walled Cities stood. Few merchants from a Walled City or even those that were Outsiders and wandered from town to town would turn down such furs.

Shaw was no exception as he finished with his examinations of the furs. Merely out of respect to my aching body, he cast a quick glance towards the two bags of metal. Forgoing to weigh or even examine them he offered, "Three hundred dollars plus a weeks rations. The pelts are exceptional quality as always and the metal will be a fine addition to the supply at the forge."

Knowing he was not lying and that he unlike other merchants did not try to offer less than what something was worth I countered, "Three hundred in gold or silver, you know coin is worthless outside these walls. The weeks rations I can pick up at the warehouse, correct?"

Not one to let me have the last word, Shaw replied, "Yes, but the coin is good here. You know you are welcome to stay here. You could conduct your business from here, and you would not have to haul around so much currency out there. Maybe we can even find a girl for you to settle down with?"

Smiling at his comment I reminded, "Provided I turn over my firearms to the city guard and dress all proper like. No, you know I can't do that. Who would supply all the cities with things no man but me is willing to get? Besides, out there really is not all that bad, and you know that my staying would cause trouble. How long would the city guard wait before coming to you with the demand that I turn over all my weapons for a single hunting rifle? Even if you can fend them off, you and I know eventually someone will flaunt my birth and customs. You know I am a temperate person but I can not stand anyone insulting my people. No, this is for the best."